Anna and G on the Road: Wool Allergy???

I have always felt so sorry for those in the stitching world who have a wool allergy. Thank goodness that my wool sensitivity is limited to wearing it...makes me itchy. A wool allergy is actually not an allergy to the wool, but an allergy to the lanolin. The oil in a wool bearing animal, also known as wool grease or wool wax (gross), can cause a red rash, sneezing, breathing issues and conjunctivitis. I have always said that stitching with wool makes your hands look 10 years younger!

But what about all those stitchers who are pining for those wonderful wool projects, yet don't want to suffer through the physical response to wool??? I have the answer...FLANNEL! And, what a wonderful alternative for those that suffer with wool allergies. I have never tried using flannel instead of wool. But, after seeing my bestie's flannel blocks by Bonnie Sullivan of https://www.allthroughthenight.net/, I am loving the texture and feel of the blocks.

She used the same technique for prepping the flannel as wool...using Soft Fuse to place her pieces then stitching them down with the stitches of her choice. I hope you enjoy the slide show...know that you can stop it at any time for a longer look...and, don't let that wool allergy stop you from trying some "wool" patterns...just use Flannel!!!

Stay tuned and travel along with us on Quilt Roadies.

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Comments

#5 Melinda Capozza 2019-05-14 10:56

Try The Back Door quilt shop, Greenwood IN (a suburb of Indianapolis) 317 882 2120. Last time I was there, they had an entire wall of flannels--yum! Wish I could have gotten/afforded a yard of each. They might be vending at the Quilters Hall of Fame, Marion IN, mid-July. If you're piecing flannel, it helps to use an overlock stitch (like a serger); for applique, window templates in fusible interfacing helps a lot.

#4 Jan W 2019-05-02 07:44

I used wool and flannel on a quilt because I could not get the wool in some of the colors I wanted. The flannel is not as stable and sometimes need a bit of fusible interfacing or other stabilizer, depending on how it is being used. Overall, I found it to be a very acceptable and definitely less expensive alternative to wool.

#3 Anna B 2019-05-01 10:00

Carol Zygadlo

Bonnie Sullivan has a large variety of flannel and get it in fat quarter bundles may be the way to go...I do know that Pioneer Quilts in Portland Oregon mail orders :)

#2 Carol Zygadlo 2019-05-01 08:55

I love wool applique......b ut I am very allergic to wool. I have been able to find some cotton flannel that is an OK substitute, but not enough variety to do anything but the simplest of projects. Any suggestions? I would love to find 'layer cake size' packages of cotton flannel (not that thin baby-type flannel) so I could really make some nice appliqued table toppers and wall hangings.

#1 jackermn 2019-05-01 07:35

I may be one of the few that isn't excited about wool. We just moved from Denver Colorado to subtropical Southwest Florida. I've knit and crocheted with and worn wool for my entire life. I'm ready for tropical cotton, linens and Batiks! :lol:

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